View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What power does The Hymn to Poseidon discuss?

2. According to Aphrodite, what will the child she has with Anchises grow to become?

3. Whose house does the poet mention at the end of The Second Hymn to Hestia because it is blessed by Hestia?

4. What job did Hephaistos have, according to the hymn?

5. What characteristic does the hymn point out about Hephaistos?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who assists the poet in the beginning of The Hymn to the Moon, and what is the moon's name?

2. What happens when Aphrodite meets Anchises?

3. How is Athena's birth described in The Hymn to Athena?

4. What is the reason given in The Hymn to Aphrodite for Aphrodite's attraction to mortal men?

5. What powers are described in The Hymn to Poseidon?

6. Who is Aphrodite attracted to and what is her plan?

7. In what way does Hestia's power or presence compare to that of the other gods and goddesses?

8. What metaphor is used to describe the moon in The Hymn to the Moon?

9. What is the explanation of the seasons according to the myths?

10. How are Persephone and Demeter reunited and what are the conditions of Persephone's return?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast the description of Hera in The Hymn to Hera with her involvement in various hymns throughout the collection. Include examples and your analysis of why the poet chose to only portray her positive qualities in The Hymn to Hera.

Essay Topic 2

Chronicle the development of Ancient Greek lyrical poetry, the development of the Greek alphabet, how stories might have been created before it, and the different styles used to distinguish the epic poems from other writings. Include an explanation of the forms used in Homer's The Iliad and The Odyssey as a comparison to the writing in other ages and how Homer's work is used to support the theory of the existence of Homeric bards.

Essay Topic 3

Describe the possible theories about Homer's life and writings, including why it is believed that he was blind, how this is referred to in the hymns, and the way that his stories may have been recorded. Also, use the information in the Introduction from other historians and writers to provide examples.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 884 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample